Pea harvester and loading machine



Oct. 3, 1950 w. w. PORTER 2,524,077

PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet l nventor In Well/ng'f/w W, Parier Oct. 3, 1950 w. w. PORTER PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 am "Dco2` EgQqn/Mg W (Ittomeg Oct. 3, 1950 w. w, PORTER 2,524,077

PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1945 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 El E J Zsnventor m /MN (Ittorneg Oct. 3, 1950 w. w. PORTER 2,524,077

PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 LIX ooooooooooooo B1G-a.

'Gttorneg Oct. 3, 1950 w. w. PORTER 2,524,077

PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed oct. 18, 1945 1o sheets-sheet 5 A E v Snventor ji Wz//lfon Enfer Gttorneg Oct. 3, 1950 Filed Oct. 18, 1945 w w. PORTER PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHLNEv l0 Sheets-SheetI 6 :Snventor Oct. 3, 1950 Filed Oct. 18, 1945 w-. w. PORTER PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE 1o sheet-sheet 7 WMIl nventor Cforneg Oct. 3, 195o w. W.V PORTER 2,524,077

PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1945.

10 sheets-sheet 8 attorney Oct. 3, 1950 w. w. PoR-TER PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed oct. is. 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Oct- 3 1950 w. w. PORTER 2,524,077

PEA HARVESTER AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Smaentor Bg QQQ KUJF/f Gftorneg Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE The object of this invention is to provide a machine comprising a harvester that will both cut or harvest pea vines in the eld and elevate and load them onto a truck traveling along with the harvester.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine that will both cut or harvest pea vines standing in the eld which machine is provided with cutters and an inclined deck or ramp `iust back of the cutters and means for conveying the cut pea vines up the inclined platform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine that will both cut or harvest pea vines standing in the eld which lmachine is provided with cutters and an inclined deck or ramp just back of the cutters and means for conveying the cut pea vines up the inclined platform, such as kicker bars, said machine being also provided with an endless conveyor placed back of and below the upper edge of the inclined ramp which conveyor moves transversely to the platform and is adapted to receive the cut pea vines. This conveyor can be used to dump the pea vines on the ground in a narrow windrow or it can discharge the pea vines onto the elevator which will now be referred to.

Another object of the invention is to co-mbine with the foregoing mower, inclined deck, kicker bars and endless conveyor, an elevator on which the endless conveyor discharges the pea vines which` conveyor elevates the pea vines and dis# charges them onto a truck moving along with the harvester.

Another object of the invention is to provide a harvester in which the mower can be detached therefrom and -used separately.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mower and harvester in combination, the harvester having a separate frame by which it can be attached t the frame of the mower so that they will move together. Y

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawings described in the specication and fpointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 ,is a side elevation of the machine for harvesting and elevating the pea vines, the upper portion of the elevator being broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the cutter of the machine and the inclined platform and the kicker bars that move down and up over the inclined platform.

Figure 3 is the diagrammatic view of the power 17 Claims. (Cl. 56-185) mechanism that drives the various moving parts of the harvester and loader.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the inclined platform vand the conveyor that moves transversely thereto and the lowerend of the elevator.

Figure 5 is a detail View of the b'ar on which the upper ends of the kicker bars ride and one of the upright supports for the bar.

Figure 6 is a detail view of one of the bearings that support the crankshaft that drives the kicker bars and the upright support for that bearing.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the fork carried on the forward end of the kicker bar shown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of any one of ther three forks that are vprovided at the center and rear of each of the kicker bars.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9x-9zc of Figure 8 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 10 is a detail side view of the second fork that is carried on each one of the kicker bars.

This fork is placed immediately under the bearing of the crankshaft that drives the bar and only partially appears in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a section on the line Ilm, Ila: of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a detail view of the fastening for one of the slats at the lower end `of the rarmp.

, Figure 13 is a detail view of the support for the the upper end of the ramp.

Figure14 is a diagrammatic view of a modiiied form of the gearing by which the moving parts of the harvester and loader are driven.

Figure 15 is an elevation of the rear end of the harvester and loader showing the left hand end of the horizontal conveyor and the elevator on which the horizontal conveyor discharges the pea vines. It is understood that part of the elevator is shown broken away because of its great length;V

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic |or a top plan viewv of a so-called No. 5 John Deere power mower.

f Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view showing the elevation of the drive mechanism of the John Deere mower extending from the tractor to the pitman that reciprocates the cutter bar.

- Figure 18 is a top plan view of the frame work of the harvester and loader that is attached to the mower shown in Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a sectional view of the elevator, the section being taken on the line 19:12, I9x of Figure 1, the section being shown to the center line of the elevator only.

Figure 20 is a sectional view of a modied form of the elevator otherwise corresponding to the section shown in .Figure 19- Figure 21 is a sectional View of the horizontal conveyor and the frame that supports it, the section being taken on the line 2 Ix, 2 lx of Figure 4, the center portion of the section being partly broken away.

Figure 22 is a sectional view through three slats of the ramp, the section being taken on the line 22:0, 22a: of Figure 4, showing the flexible strip under the slats and showing the angular guard at the side of the ramp.

Figure 23 is a perspective View of the post and hood shown at the lower right hand corner of Figure 2.

Figure 24 is a detail view of the post and guide for the cutter bar located at the lower .left hand corner of Figure 2, it being understood that the ends of the cutter bar are located at Figures 23 and 24 respectively.

Figure 25 is a section on the line 25a-,2511: of Figure 18 looking in the direction of the arrow showing the supporting Wheel anda portion-rofl the frame.

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 14, and 23 are all on substantially the same scale.

Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, l0, 11, 12, 13, 1'7, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 24 are all on substantially the same scale which scale is somewhat larger than the scaleI of the seven figures mentioned above.

Figures 16, 18 and 25 are on asomewhat smaller scale than the seven figures mentioned above.

In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings, reference numeral I indicatesthe triangular frame of the mower (see Figures 16 and 17) 2 indicates the drive shaftV by which' the mowing, harvesting and elevating mechanism is driven from the power take-01T on the standard form of tractor which is used in drawing this machine. 3 is the slip clutch whichis used as a safety device to permit the shaft 2 to turn when-V the shaft 4 is held against turning by on ob-v struction in the cutter bar 5.-` 6 4is the so-called pitman by which the cutting bar actingas theI initial gathering means as it passes closely over the ground contour is reciprocated. All this" is standardwell-knownconstruction in the standard John Deere No. 5 power mower. At 'I the caster wheel 8 is pivotally attached to the frame in the standard construction when the rnower'isused` without my harvester and loader. The .power mower is supported by the caster wheel 8 and two shoes 9 and I0 that are attached to the underside of the stationary cutter bar. These shoes ride over the ground and conform to any irregu^ larities therein permitting the stationary cutter bar to rise or fall as the surface of the ground All this is standard constructionv may require. in the power mower above referred to and is used in the mower when used in connection with the harvester, (and mower) except that when the mower is used in connection with the harvester and mower the caster wheel 8 is removedvandthe frame of the combined apparatusis supportedbyr i bolt holes and |2 are provided in the frame of the mower by which it is connected to the adapter on thertractor, all' this beingstandard construction whenused normally without-my harveter and loader.

In Figure 18 I have shown the framework of the harvester and loader which is attached to the mower. In this construction a channel bar 2U is bent to form the four sides 20, 2|, 22 and 23. Between the sides 2U and 23 is welded the cross bar 24. The draft bar 25 is attached to the channel bars 2| and 22 and is provided with a standard trailer socket 2'! by which it is attached to the draw bar of the tractor by a standard ball and socket, these parts comprising a well-known trailer hitch which constitutes no part of my invention. On the power shaft 4 as shown in Figure 3, I have added a sprocket gear 4a having 20 teeth thereon which gear is driven by the shaft 4. This gear is omitted from the shaft 4 in Figure 16 for the purpose of clearness and for the further reason vthat it is no part of the standard construction of the John Deere power mower.

The mowing machine is provided with a triangular frame comprising the three bars 30, 3| and 32.

These bars are welded together. On the end of the frame extensions 33 and 34 are welded and on' these extensions is supported a bar 35 which has upturned ends 35a and 35h that are fastened to the extensions 33 and 34 by bolts, all this is part of the standard construction. For my purpose this bar 35 is turned down side up and still remains fastened to the extensions 33 and 34'by` bolts 36 and 3T, it being understood that the original bolts are not long enough for my purpose and are replaced by longer bolts for a purpose that will presently be described.

When the frame of the mower is connected lto the frame of the harvester as shown in Figure 3 the bar 3| lies parallel to and against the bar 20.-

The bar 3| is fastened to the bar 20 by means'of the bolts 36 and 38. The bar 23 is connectedzto the bar 35 and the extension 34 by the bolt 3l.

Attached to the cross bar 35 is the draft bar 2B- by a bolt 40. This draft bar is also welded to the:

underside of the channels 2| and 22. This draft bar 25 is bent upwardly-between the bars 2| and f 22 and is attached to the bar 35 on the -top thereof.

The draft bar 25 extends forwardly Afrom the channels 2| and 22 and triangularly shaped brackets 4| and 42 welded tothe sides thereof, the rear ends of which brackets are welded to the channels 2| and 22. This makes a strong connection between the draft bar and the frame of the harvester.

The channel bar 23 extends to the back corner of the frame as shown in Figure 18. To the rear end of the channel bar 23 is welded the channel bar which extends to the left-hand end of the frame of the machine. Parallel to the channel bar 45 is placed the channel bar 45 which is also Welded to the channel bar 23 and is alsowelded to the channel bar 2i).v Triangular plates 41 are welded to the bars 2|) and 45 both above and below them for the purpose of strengthening the joint. Tubular braces 48 and 43 are Welded between the channels 45 and 4B and these braces are spaced apart by the brace 5i] which is welded to the braces 48 and 49.

The brace 24 is placed six inchesvabove the channels 2U and 23 and is supported therefrom, being welded to the top of the channels this is shown in Figure 25. Extending downwardly from the cross bar 24 are the braces 24a and 24h on the lower ends of which are bearings 24e which support the shaft 24d that carries the-wheel 24e.`

The brackets 24a and 24h are connected to the channel bar 46 by braces 241 and 24g which are welded to both parts and the bracket 24h' is attached to the bar 23 by the brace 24h. The braces 24j, 24g and 24h are inclined upwardly to the bars 46 and 23.

At the left hand end of the machine as shown in Figure 18 a companion wheel 24m is shown supported from the channel 46 by the bracket 241i. This bracket and wheel is shown in elevation at the bottom of Figure 1.

Carried by the bar 23 is the transmission 55 which is a standard transmission such as is used in automobiles having three speeds forward and one speed reverse, although for the purpose of this invention, the second speed forward is all that is necessary and is preferably used. This transmission is driven by a sprocket gear 5l which in turn is driven by a sprocket chain 52 which in turn is driven by the gear 4a above mentioned.

This transmission drives a shaft 56 on which is carried two sprocket Wheels 51 and '58. The sprocket wheel 51 drives a chain 59 which in-turn drives a sprocket wheel 60 carried on a shaft 6| carried in the housing 62. On the shaft 6|' is also carried a V-pulley 63 which drives a V-belt 64 which in turn drives a V-pulley 65 carried on the shaft 66 which drives the horizontal co-nveyor 61.

The sprocket wheel 58 drives a chain 58a which drives the elevator which will presently be more fully described.

On the forward end of the shaft 6l is carried a bevel gear 61a which drives bevel bear 6 I b which is supported in suitable bearings in the housing 6|c. The bevel gear SIb drives a shaft lll which i in turn drives a crank shaft 1| through the universal joints and shaft 12.

On the channel bar 46 is welded the two posts and 16 (see Figures 2, 4, 5, 13 and 18). Between the posts 15 and 16 on top of the channel bar 46 is fastened tube 11 about one inch in diameter. Extending forwardly and down from this tube a plate 18 about three inches wide is welded. Near the top of the posts 15 and 16 is supported the tubular cross bar 19, the purpose of which will be described presently. This bar is supported by the brackets 19a and 19hi clamped on the posts which permit the vertical adjust-- ment of the bar 19 up and down. To the bottom of the posts 15 and 16 are hinged the forwardly extending bars 82 and83. These bars are links and at the forward end are pivotally connected to a U-shaped frame 84, having the upright members 84a and 84h and the crossbar at the top 84e.

The lower end of the member 84a.` has connected to it a bracket 85 by brazing or in any other suitable manner. This bracket has a forward extension 85a. Supported from this extension is the stationary cutter bar y5a. and the shoe 9. The cutter bar is fastened to the extension 85a by means of bolts and nuts 85o and the shoe 9 is attached to the cutter bar 5a and extension by the same bolts. At the bottom of the assembly is fastened a Wear shoe 85C in any suitable manner.

At the opposite end of the cutter bar is thehood 86 to which is welded the lower end of the upright member 84h. To the upright member 86a of the hood is attached the shoe I D shown in Figure 16. This shoe is also attached at the forward end of the hood by a bolt that passes through the hold 8612. In Figure 23 four holes are shown in the upright member 86a through all of Which holes the bolts extend that connect the shoe to the hood and the bolts in the two lower holes also connect with the angle bracket 81a that supports the bar 81 that supports the lower end of the rampy shown in Figure 4. Through the opening in the hood 86 extends the pitman 6 which moves the cutter bar 5 back and forth. This assembly permits the end of the cutter bar and ramp to rise and fall because of any unevenness of the ground.

The cutter bars here referred to are the bars used for cutting pea vines and which are replaced by another type of cutter bars when the mower is used for cuttinghay, etc.

Extending upward and rearwardly from thel cross bar 81 is a series of slats 88, each of them being about three inches wide. Each of these slats at the bottom is pivotally connected to the crossbar 81 by a metal strap 81a which is attached to the slat and is bent around the crossbar, shown in Figures 4 and 12.

These slats are inclined upwardly at an angle of about 30. At the upper end these slats rest loosely'on the tube 11 and plate 18. This construction permits the cutters and the crossbar 81 to raise up at either end in passing over an obstruction or uneven ground in which case the upper end of the slats ride on and separately adjust themselves on the tube 11 and plate 18 and they preserve an even uniform deck or ramp up which the pea vines can travel from the cutters to the conveyor 61.

It will be understood that'the conveyor 61 consists of two parallel sprocket chains which travel over a stationary platform 61a. See Figure 4. This stationary platform 61a. is shown in Vsection in Figure 21 and on the right hand side the platform is bent down to form a flange 61e by which it is bolted to the channel 46. On the left |it is bent :up and inclined outwardly as shown at 61d. At the upper end the part 61d is fastened to the channel by straps 61e which at the top are welded to the part 61d and at the bottom are bolted to the channel 45. These sprocket chains are connected together by cross bars 61h which drag the vines either to the right or to the left whichever may be desired and theupper ends of the slats 88 extend over and above the conveyor 61 and its crossbars 61b so that asthe pea vines are discharged from the slats they fall down on the conveyor and the platform over which it travels. The slats 88 are bolted toa leather or fabric belt 88a, which holds them together (see Figures 4 and 22). This permits each slat'to move upwardly endwise a slight distance independent of the slats on either side, it being understood that the parallel alignment of them is secured by the belt. On each side of the ramp is placed an angle 88h which holds the pea vines from spilling overr (see Figures 4 and 22).

On the links 82 and 83 are anges or brackets 82a and 83a. Near the upper ends of the posts 15 and 16 is fastened counter balancing springs 82h and 8319. These springs are under tension and when the shoes 9 and I6 or cutting bar passes over an obstruction, these springs tend to lift the cutter bars 5 and 5a and the tubular crossbar 81 and the slats connected thereto.

canxbe-.ar-ranged in three -sets spaced 120 apart. Each crank has a bearing thereon 90 which moves in acircle withthe crank as the crankshaft 'll revolves. To eachof vthese bearings is attached akicker bar which will now be described.

Each of these kicker bars is an assembly of an upper bar 9| that is about three inches wide and seventy-nine inches long and` a paddle bar 92, eight inches wide and fifty-eight inches long. The bar 'I9 ypasses between the upper bar 9| and the paddle bar 92. It supports the `bars Sl, and the paddle bars 92 are -supported from the bars 9|. The bar 'I9 is provided with guide pins 19e which hold the kicker bars in place. lThe upper bar is fastened to and separated from the paddle bar by three blocks 93,793, 93 that are two inches thick,the paddle bar and one block being attached to the upper bar by a bolt that passes through all three of them. See Figure 9. The first and second blocks are spaced about eighteen inches apart and the second and third'blocks are spaced about thirty-four inches vapart. This spacing is somewhat more than the throw of the crankywhich moves the assembly back and forth on the cross bar 19 by about twenty-two inches. The bottom throw of each Aof the cranks is down toward the lower end of the deckand back and up toward the rear end of the deck, it being understood that the assembly of the slats 88 is called an inclined deck. Ontheflower face of the upper bar 9i at the forward end or at the forward side of the crank shaft `'H is placed a metall channel shaped support 94 on which is placed two sets of downwardly projecting forks or tines. Atthe outer end 'iis placed a tube 95 that is bolted to the channel shaped support and the tines 96 placed thereon have the base of them coiled around the tube so as to form a yielding spring support for the tines (see Figures 1 and '7) This permits the tines to yield rearwardly if they strike an obstruction. Near the rearward end of the channel support is vplaced a bracket` 91 which supports the fork 98 having two tines thereon which support holds the tines rigid Aor nearly so, shown in Figures and 1l.

On the paddle bar 92 is placed a third, fourth, fifth and sixth fork; The third and fourth forks 99 and l are each comprised of twobrackets each of which supports two tines, rigid or nearly so. thereforahas four tines in it.' The fifth and sixth forks 10i and H32 are each composed of'- two brackets each of which supports two tines and the four tines of each of the fifth and sixth forks are mounted in their supporting brackets so that they can yield rearwardly, shown in Figures 5, 8 and 9. If the tines of the fifth and sixth forks were rigidly mounted in their brackets they would move the pea vines back and forth atl the upper edge of the deck or ramp and would cause the vines to clog up on the deck, but because they can swing back they trail over the pea vines on the forward and downward movement of the kicker bars and dig into the peaJ vines and push them up the ramp on the backward movement and upward movement of the kicker bars. In this way the pea vines are positively pushed, up and back on the deck and are dischargedover the upper end thereof onto the horizontal conveyor. l

`It will be understoodk thatthere are six forks or sets of tines on each of the kicker barsand that the first and second forks are carriedon the upper bar, which is a narrow one as appears in Figure 2 and the third, fourth, fifth andsixth See Figures 1 and9. Each of these forks 8 l forks arecarried on the lower bar, which lower bar is wide as also occurs in Figure 2.

It will also be understood that all the forks on-y each of the kicker bars extend downftosubstantially the same level which necessitates that the first and second rakes or forks must be. longer than the others because they are mounted on the upper bar.

On -the'left hand end of thecrankshaft H as.

shown in Figures 1 and 2 is placed a sprocket wheel l I0 which rotates therewith. This sprocket wheel drives a chain lll whichdrives a small sprocket gear H2 carried ona shaft H3 sup.-v ported with bearings carried on the bracket H4` Thev supported from the upright bar 84a. sprocketgear H2 .rotates a circular knife H5 having teeth thereon which rotate close .to threestationary teeth HS Vthis cutter rotatingin a vertical plane cuts the pea vinesto a straight line so that the vines. can be cut clean to a given line. On the outsideof .this .cutter assemblyis a guard l I'I.

As above described, the horizontal conveyor is driven by a V-shaped -belt 84 and by reversing or crossing this belt the conveyor willbe .caused to run in one direction and bymaking the belt run-straight the conveyor will-bemade to run in the other direction. In this way, the pea vines.

can be deposited on the ground Vat eitherv end of the conveyor in a compact narrow windrow from which they can be easily forked onto the truck. It will be understood, that this mowerand harvester .can go around. the4 eld and harvest a swath of pea vines about sixfeet wide and place them in a windrow on top of the next uncutY conveyor and carry them up and discharge them` over the end thereof so that they will fall on a truck that can thenbe driven along at the side.

of the mower andharvester so that the pea vines will be caught thereon ras-fast as they are harvested. After the harvester and elevatorcom-V bined has gone around the field once the heavy load of pea vines combined in the three swaths will be elevated from `the field and thereafter each time around the harvester and elevator .will handle one swath at a time. In. the third time around the mower, lharvesterand Velevator -will travel much more slowly than it would. the -rst time around because the harvester and elevator on the third time around is handling three times as many pea vines for each foot thatit travels forward as it would handle the rst time around or the fourth time around.

The elevator by which the pea vines are elevated from the horizontal conveyor 6l. will now be described.

When the elevator is in place the discharge end of the horizontal conveyor 61 extends over the lower end of the elevator and the lower endof the elevator extends under the discharge end of the horizontal conveyor. The elevator is shown as a unit on Figure l5 and is vpartially shown on Figures l, 4 and 19. The elevator is built up as av unitwhich Vmay be. as much as lsixteen feet in` length and near the lower end it is pivotally mounted between the channels 45 and 46. The long bolt on which the elevator swings is in dicated at 45a in Figure 15. The floor ||9 and sides of the elevator are formed preferably of a single sheet of metal bent to the form as shown in Figure 19. Below the oor of the elevator on each side and extending the length of the elevator is the angle bar supports |22 which are suitably spaced down from the sides of the elevator by spacers |23. These angles |22 on each side are part of the elevator frame and help to stiien it, and the angles form a guide for the return of the sprocket chains |24, |24. These sprocket chains are at intervals connected `by the cross bars |25 which drag or push the pea vines up along the floor of the elevator. The sprocket chains |24 are driven from the sprocket Wheel 58 supported from the channels 46. This wheel drives a sprocket chain 58a which in turn drives a sprocket gear |26 carried on a shaft |21 which extends across the elevator frame about one-third of the distance from the top of the frame. This shaft is supported in bearings carried in the blocks |28, |28, which are adjustable to secure the correct spacing for the sprocket chain 58a. Adjacent to the sprocket gear |26 is placed two V-shaped pulleys which drive V-shaped belts |29, which in turn drive pulleys |39. These belts are preferably crossed in order to run the elevator chains |24 in the right direction. The pulleys |30 are carried on a shaft I3| to which are keyed sprocket gears which pull the elevator chains |24, |24. At the bottom of the elevator these sprocket chains |24 pass over the sprocket gears |32, each of which gears is mounted on a separate short shaft |33. Each of these shafts rotates in a bearing which is adjustable along the slot |34 in any well-known manner.

By drivingthe sprocket chain 58a the V-belts |29 are driven and these in Aturn drive the sprocket gears at the top of the elevator frame which pull the sprocket chains |24 and the crossbars |25. The crossbars |25 drag the pea vines` up the floor of the elevator and the pea vines are held in contact with the elevator bars by the tension boards |31, |31 which rest loosely on the crossbars |25 or the pea vines and serve to hold the pea vines in contact with the bars. lower end these bars |31, |31 are supported by the U-shaped frame |38 which hold them away from the elevator a suitable distance so that the horizontal conveyor can place the pea vines on the elevator under these bars. The gearing is arranged so that the conveyor on the elevator travels about one-third faster than does the horizontal conveyor.

The upper end of the elevator frameis supported by cables |49, one on each side of the elevator frame. At the lowerend these cables are Wound around the shaft |4| of the reel that is operated by crank |42. On the shaft |4| is a ratchet wheel |44 and-pawl |45 which holds it against reverse movement when the elevator is raised.

The upright ange on the floor ||9 and the angles |22 run the Whole length of the elevator. This flange and the angle are connected together by suitable spacers |23, ve of which are preferably used although not all of them appear in Figure 15. The spacers are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the elevator and the spacers of three of these pairs are connected together by tubular crossbars |59. These spacing bars are At the close enough to the floor of the elevator so that they supportthe floor of the elevator against any considerable sagging. The ends of these crossbars are welded against the sides of the spacer plates |23. Extending longitudinally oithe elevator frame and welded to the middle of the crossbars are bars |5| which provide additional support for the iloor of the elevator. This construction serves to strengthen and stiien the A elevator frame and hold it against twisting.

In Figure 20 I have shown a modification of the construction of the elevator. As shown in Figure 20 the floor of the elevator I9 is bent upwardly in a flange |53 which extends over the elevator and forms a housing |54. This structure prevents the peas from spilling over the edge of the runway, and would also stiffen the elevator structure.

For the purpose of simplifying the gearing shown in Figure 3 I have shown another form of gearing in Figure 14 in which 3 indicates the socalled slip clutch which drives the shaft 4, on which shaft is the sprocket gear 4b which drives the cutter. On the same shaft is a tooth gear wheel |55 which meshes with a gear |56. This gear drives the shaft 6| which in turn drives a sprocket Wheel which drives the chain 59, the gearing otherwise being the same as shown in Figure 3. The bevel gears Sla and Glb drive the link 12 that drives the crank shaft 1| as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

I claim:

l. In a pea vine harvester, the combination of a frame, means for cutting the vines flexibly connected to the frame, an upwardly inclined deck for receiving the vines as they are cut exfmeans Aoverlying said .ramp for elevating vines tending from said cutting means to said frame, means for pushing the vines up the inclined deck, said deck being composed of narrow slats extending upwardly from near the cutting means,

a pivotal mounting for said slats at their lower end, said slats being connected near the top ,thereof by a flexible belt and flexibly bearing .upon said frame, permitting each slat near the top -to move up endwise independent of the adjacent slats.

2. In a pea vine harvester, the combination of a, frame, means for cutting the vines flexibly connected to the frame, an upwardly inclined deck for receiving the vines as they are cut extending from said cutting means to the frame,

means for pushing the vines up the inclined deck,

said deck rising or falling on its lower edge at either end with the rising and falling of the cutting means, a pivotal mounting for saidslats at their lower end, said inclined deck being composed of narrow parallel slats held together on the unramp on which said slats rest loosely, exi-ble .means connecting said slats together, but permitting each slat to`have a movement of its own independent of the slats on either side of it and and the like up said ramp.

4. In a harvesting machine an inclined ramp comprising parallel slats, a bar at the bottom of `the ramp to which each of said slats is pivotally geese?? and loosely connected, a bar"at the top of the ramp on which said slats rest loosely, flexible means on the underside of said slats connecting said slats together, but permittingV each slat to have a movement of its own independent of the slats on either side of it.

5. In a harvesting machine an inclined ramp comprising parallel slats, a bar at the bottom of the ramp to which each of said slats is pivotally andloosely connected, a'bar at the top of the ramp on which said slats rest loosely, flexible means connecting said slats together, but permitting each slat to have a movement of its own independent of the slats on either side of it, said bar at the bottom of the ramp being supported so that it is free to rise and fall at either end with the slats at its end independent of the same bar and its slats at the other end.

6. In a harvester,- a frame comprising a rearward transverse member, and a forward transverse member flexibly supported therefrom, a warpable ramp having its lower forward `end carried by said yflexibly supported member, a cutter carried by said last named member, and means warpable with the ramp and located above the ramp for moving vines and the like up the ramp.

7. In a harvester, a frame comprising a rearward transverse member, and a forward trans- 'verse" member flexibly supported therefrom, a

warpable ramp having its lower forward end carried by said flexibly supported member, a cutter `carried by said last named member, a transverse multiple throw crank shaft journaled above said last named member in substantial parallelism with said last named member, a transverse guide bar positioned above the upper end of said ramp and supported from said rearward member, .bars slidably mounted upon said guide bar, and having their forward ends mounted upon the throes of said cranks, paddle faces on the under side of said bars tothe rear thereof forming guide faces above said ramp, and means carried by said bars for moving material up the ramp, between the ramp and said faces, upon rearward movement of said slidably mounted 'barsjand for releasing said material upon-forwardmovement vof the'bars.

8. In a harvester, a frame comprising a rearward transverse member; and 'a forward i transverse member flexibly supported therefrom, Va

`warpable ramp having its lower forward end verse member flexibly supported therefrom, a

warpableraxnp having its klower forward end carried' by said flexibly supported member, a

cutter carried by said last named member, a transverse multiple throw crank shaft journaled above said last named member in substantial parallelism with said last named member, a transverse guide bar positioned above the upper end of said ramp and supported from said rearward member, bars 'slidably mounted upon said guide bar, and having their forward ends mounted upon-the. throesof said'cranks, paddle faces on the underside of said bars to the rear thereof forming guide faces above said ramp, and means carried by said bars for moving material up the ramp, between vthe ramp and V'said faces,*up'o'rl rearward movement of said 'slidably mounted bars, and for releasing said material upon for--V ward movement of the bars, and means for re ceiving said material at the rear of the ramp and delivering it transversely of the ramp to one side of the frame.

10. In a harvester, a frame comprising a rearward transverse member, and aforward transverse member flexibly supported therefrom, a warpable ramp having its lower forward end carried by said flexibly supported' member, said ramp being composed of spaced slats extending fore and aft, and being flexibly secured attheir ends and to one of said transverse members, and resting on the other, a cutter carried by said last named member, and means above the ramp for moving vines and the like up the ramp.

1l. In a harvester, a frame comprising a rearward-transverse member, and a forward transversev member flexibly supported therefrom, a warpable ramp having its lower forward end carried by Asaid flexibly supported member, said ramp Vbeing composed vof spaced slats extending fore and aft, and being flexibly secured at their ends and to one of said transverse members, and resting on the other, a cutter carried by said forward member, a transver'semultiple throw crank shaft journaled above said forward member in substantial parallelism with said forward member, a transverse guide bar -positionedabove the upper `end of said ramp and supported from said rearward member, bars slidably mounted upon said guide'bar, and having their forward ends mounted upon the throes of said cranks, paddle faces on the'under side of `said bars to the rear thereof forming guide faces above said ramp, and means Vcarried by said bars for moving material up the ramp, between the lramp and said faces, upon rearward movement of said slidably mountedbars, and for releasing AsaidI material upon forward 'movement of the bars.

l2. In a harvester, a frame comprising av rearward transverse member, and a forward transverse member flexibly supported therefrom, a warpable ramp having itslower forward end carried by said-flexibly supported member, said ramp being composed of spaced slats extending fore and aft, and being flexibly secured at their ends and to one of said transverse members, and rest on-the other, a cutter carried by said last named member, means above the ramp formoving vines 'and' 'the like up the ramp,and -means for receiving said material at the rear of the ramp and delivering ittransversely of the ramp to one side of ythe frame.V

13; In a harvester, a frame comprising a rearward transverse member, and *a* forward transverse member flexibly supported therefrom, a warpable ramp' having Yits lower forward end carried by said flexibly supported member, said ramp being composed of spaced slats extending fore and aft, and being flexibly secured at their ends and Vto one of said transverse members, and

resting on the other, acutter carried by said forward member, a transverse multiple throw crank shaft journaled above said last named member in substantial parallelism with said last named member, a transverse guide bar positioned above the upper end of said ramp and supported from said rearward member, bars slidably mounted' upon said guide bar, and having their forward ends mounted upon the throes of said cranks, paddle faces on the under side of said bars to the rear thereof forming guide faces above said ramp, and means carried by said bars for moving material up the ramp between the ramp and said faces, upon rearward movement of said slidably mounted bars, and for releasing said material upon forward movement of the bars, and means for receiving said material at the rear of the ramp and delivering it transversely of the ramp to one side of the frame.

14. In a harvester, a frame comprising a rearward transverse member, and a forward trans- :verse member exibly supported therefrom, a warpable ramp having its lower forward end carried by said flexibly supported member, gathering means extending transversely substantially the width of the forward ramp end, and carried by said last named member, and means warpable with the ramp and located above the ramp for moving vines and the like up the ramp.

15. In a harvesting machine, an inclined ramp comprising parallel slats, a bar at the bottom of the ramp to which each of said slats is pivotally and loosely connected, a bar at the top of the ramp on which said slats rest loosely, eXible means connecting said slats together, but permitting each slat to have an endwise movement 25 the ramp to which each of said slats is pivotally and loosely connected, a bar at the top of the ramp on which said slats restloosely, flexible means placed remote from the bar at the bottom of the ramp, said means being attached to each slat and connecting said slats together, but permitting said slats to move endwise and upwards progressively as the bar at the bottom is raised at either end, the endwise and upward movement of each slat corresponding to the upward move- 14 ment of that part of the bar at the bottom to which the slat is attached.

. 17. In a harvesting machine, an inclined ramp comprising parallel slats, a bar at tlbottom of the ramp to which each of said slats is pivotally and loosely connected, a bar at the top of the ramp on which said slats rest loosely, said slats being adapted to move endwise and upwards progressively as the bar at the bottom is raised at either end, the endwise andupward movement of each slat corresponding-to the upward movement of that' part of the bar at the bottom to which the slat is attached.

WELLINGTON W. PORTER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 95,397 Whiteley Sept. 28, 1869 716,374 Brunger Dec. 23, 1902 967,243 Rosenthal Aug. 16, 1910 1,156,543 Nevill Oct. 12, 1915 1,271,427 Burke July 2, 1918 1,532,022 Bamford Mar. 31, 1925 1,543,623 Smart June 23, 1925 1,546,436 Coultas et al July 21, 1925 1,849,306 Mac Gregor Mar. 15, 1932 1,903,769 King Apr. 18, 1933 1,932,660 Grant Oct. 31, 1933 1,960,978 Redpath et a1 May 29, 1934 2,258,517 -Rose Oct. 7, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 214,236 Germany Oct. 8, 1909 272,887 Italy Mar. 24, 1930 

